Potential of using ground-based high-power Lasers to decelerate the evolution of Space Debris in LEO

Abstract

High-power lasers offer a unique potential for debris collision avoidance and orbit lowering for removal purposes within the debris mitigation scenario. Photon pressure and surface ablation are explored as suitable mechanisms to remotely apply the required velocity increment to debris targets. The appropriate regime of laser intensity and fluence, respectively, is discussed in terms of technical maturity and laser safety. Laser power beaming from ground to space is analysed considering atmospheric constraints like aerosol attenuation, cloud cover and turbulence including possibilities and limitations of technical counter-measures. Operational risks comprise uncertainties in momentum transfer as well as thermo-mechanical side effects highlighting the necessity of target reconnaissance. Moreover, making space debris touchable from ground might raise concerns of third parties regarding their own space assets not to be tackled by high-power lasers. Hence, the need for global governance of this approach for space debris mitigation is reflected.